Inking mechanism



Jan. 15, 1935. c. D. RYAN INKING MECHANISM l0 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan.18, 1935 m i w Jan.15,1935. v c. D. RYAN 1,987,800

INKING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 18, 1955 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 MVf/VTOF ao. EVANATTORNEY 9 c. D. RYAN INKING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 18, 1935 10Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 15, 1935. c. D. RYAN I INKING MECHANISM Filed Jan.1a, 1955 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jan. 15, 1935. c. D. RYAN 1,937,800

I INKING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 18, 1935 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 6

NIKE N70,? c. a BMW Jan. 15, 1935.. c. D. RYAN 1,987,800

, INKING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 18, 1953 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 4 TTORNEY 15,c. D. RYAN v INKING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 18; 1935 l0 Sheets-Sheet 7 I Mu I 7 u :55 m l1? INN? A TTORNEY Jan. 15, c D RYAN INKING MECHANISMFiled Jan. 18, 1955 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 wWwNH IIVVE/VTOE 650 144 Jan. 15,1935. v c, D. YAN' 1,987,800

INKING MECHANISM I I Filed Jan. 18, 1953 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 Jan. 15,1935. C. D. RYAN INKING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 18, 195.5

10 Sheets-Sheet 10 abtozmq Patented Jan. I5, 1935 7 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE INKING MECHANISM Commodore D. Ryan, Los Angeles, Calif., assignorto National Postal Meter Company, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation ofCalifornia Application January 18,1933, Serial No. 652,255

10 Claims. (01. 101-335) This invention relates to printing presses, andFig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the particularly toprinting presses of the reciprocatline 6-6 of Fig. 4. ing or oscillatingtype. Fig. '7 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 6, cer- While theinvention may be used for many diftain parts thereof being broken away.;ferent tasks of printing it is especially adapted for Fig. 8 is anelevational view of the structure 5 use in a metered mailing machine,the function shown in Fig. 3. of which is to print postage stamps onletters, Fig. 9 is an operation view of the structure discards, smallpackages, and the like, and to count closed in Fig. 10. the amount ofpostage thus printed and lock it- Fig. 10 is an enlarged, fragmentary,vertical 10 self against further use when a predetermined sectional viewtaken on the line 10-10 of Fig. 8. 10 amount of postage purchased fromthe post office Fig. 11 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical has beenused up. Accordingly a preferred emsectional view taken on the line11-11 of Fig. 8. bodiment of my invention is'disclosed herein as. Fig.12 is a perspective view of an ink pad inassociated with a meteredmailing machine. cluded in my invention.

1 It is especially desirable that metered mailing Fig. 13 is aperspective view of the pad shown 5 machines operate over considerableperiods with in Fig. 12, showing the manner of separating the aminimumof attention. One'of the features of two main parts thereof. mailingmachines which has given trouble to' Fig. 14 is an enlarged, sectionalview taken on users in the past is the means for inking the printtheline 1414 of Fig. 12.

20 ing die. Fig. 15 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 4 show- It is anobject of my invention to provide an ing a different position of theparts disclosed inking means for a metered. mailing machine herein.which will operate satisfactorily over long periods Fig. 16 is avertical sectional View taken on the of time without attention. line16-16 of Fig. 17.

The more specific objects of my inventionin- Fig. 17 is asemi-diagrammatic view of a por- 5 clude the following: to provide a dieinking pad, tion of the structure shown in Fig. 15. the stamping surfaceof which may be readily re ig- 18 s a Sectional V W m a to igs. 4 andnewed t Small expense when worn t; t pr 15 showing another position ofthe parts disclosed vide means for pressing the pad against the die inth n, a d a manner to cause as little wearing of the pad iS a VerticalSectional View taken on 30 as possible; to provide a means for feedingink to the line 1919 of Fig. 18. the pad to keep this freshly suppliedwith ink at Referring specifically to the drawings, a all times when themachine is running and yet metered mailing machine 10, comprising apreprevent feeding of ink when the machine is not ferred embodiment ofmy invention, is shown in pri t n to pr vid an ink r s v ir and feedingFig. 1, this machine including a power unit 11 and 35 means which willneither leak nor clog; and to a detachable printing and metering headprovide an inking means which will apply ink uniformly and freshly tothe printing die just be- Power fore each impression. The power unit 11includes a housing 13, a 40 Further ob ects and advantages will be madehopper 14, a f di and Stripping mechanism 40 manifest in the followingdescription, taken in 15 a conveyor 16 andamoistener auction with theammpanying drawings, in Within the housing 13 of the power unit 11 is awhich:

motorand suitable power transmitting mecha-' Fig. 11s a perspective viewof a metered mailing nism (not shown) for driving the various units i hhich the rintin re f aifi gfii gg g to be g g p SS 0 my m of the machine10 to be described hereinafter. 45

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the printing press The Popper 14 15mounted at n corner of the detached from the mailing machine shown inFig housing 13 for receiving stacks of envelopes, cards; 1, the housingbeing removed and the like. The feeding and stripping mecha- Fig.3 is aperspective view of one of the parts msm 15 located adjacent the hopper14 feeds' 50 of the unit shown in Fig single envelopes from the hopper14 onto the con- Fig. 4 is an enlarged, longitudinal sectional yo 6, helatter being ap e Barry t se view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.envelopes to the printing and metering head 12 Fig. 5 is a verticalsectional viewtaken on the and. then discharge them from the machine.The 65 -linei5-''5'of Fig. 4. 1 moistener' 17 is positioned so as toengage the and an ink pad 52.

flaps of the envelopes as the latter are being conveyed from the hopper14 to the printing head 12.

The printing and metering head Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 4,the printing and metering head 12 includes a frame 20, a printingmechanism 21, an inking mechanism 22, a power transmitting mechanism 23,andv a meter 24.

The frame 20 includes a bottom 26 and an end plate 27, as shown in Fig.4, the bottom 26 having a pair of grooved pins 28 normally received bysuitable holes in the housing 13 of the machine 10. The printing head 12is removably. secured to the housing 13 by a manually operatedllatch 29'pivotally mounted within the housing 13 and adapted to engage thegrooves of the pins 28 as shown in Fig. 4. I

Formed integral with the bottom 26.: of-.-the- The printing mechanismThe printing. mechanism 21 includes an oscillating printing member 36and a platen 37, the latter being resiliently mounted on the bottom 26of the frame 20 on suitable springs 38; The printing member 36includes'a pair of'arms 40, these being pivotally mounted at one endthereof on a pin 41, the latter being supported on the end plate 27 bysuitable lugs 42' as shown in-.Fig. 4. The free ends of the arms 40 arejoined byza cross member 43, to the under side of which a suitableprinting die 44 is fixed. The member 36 is urged to its uppermostposition by springs 45 positioned under the arms 40, one of thesesprings being shown in Fig. 2.

Fixed to the upper side of the cross-member 43 of the arms 40 is a pairof .camplates 46 and 4'7, these being formed as shown in Figs. 2, 4, and5.

The inking mechanism The inking mechanism 22 includes an' oscillatingmember 50, an reservoir and applicator 51, The oscillating member 50includes a pair of arms 53, these being p-ivotally mounted on theaforementioned pin 41 as shown in Fig. 4. The arms 53 are joined attheir ends by a cross-member 54, a second cross-member 55 being providedadjacent the pivoted ends of the arms 53. under the cross-member 55 soas to urge the arms 53 upward as shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

Fixed at its ends to each of the arms 53 is a central cross-member 60,the latter having an enlarged portion 61 at its center. The portion 61'has a pin. 62 fixed therein on a transverse axis and extending laterallytherefrom. Below the pin 62 is a second pin 63 on a longitudinal axis,this pin carrying a roller 64.

The ink reservoir 51 is fixed to the arms 53 of the oscillating inkingmember 50 by side plates 66, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. includes a tank65 formed as shown to provide a central opening 65a. Formed on thelowermost edge of the tank 65 is a semi-cylindrical cavity 66a, as shownin Figs. 8, 9, and 10. Loosely rotatable Within the cavity 66a is aroller 67, suitable holes 68 being provided in the wall of theCompression springs 56' are positioned The reservoir 51 cavity 66a so asto allow ink to flow from the tank 65 onto the roller 67. Provided onone side of the lower end of the tank 65 at one end of the cavity 66a isa block 69 as shown in Figs. 3 and 8, this block having a strap 70 fixedthereto which is fixed to one of the arms 53 as shown in Figs. 7 and 8so as to support the block 69 in proper relation with the lowerend ofthe tank 65 so as to enclose one end of the cavity 66a;

The tank 65 is adapted to be filled through an opening 71 shown in Fig.11, this opening being internally threaded to receive a plug '72. Formedintegral with the plug 72 is a projection 73 having a vent hole. 74extendingtherethrough. The projection '73 is enclosed by a cup '75 whichhas openings 76 provided on its upper end. The cup prevents the spillingof ink through the vent hole '74.

Slidably mounted between the arms 53 of the oscillating member 50adjacent the cross-member 54 is a plate 80, opposite ends of the latterbeing received by suitable ways 81 provided on the inside of the arms 53adjacent the lower edges thereofas shown. in Figs. 4 and '7. A portionofthe plate SOJisbent downward to provide a vertical portion 82, thishaving. a bifurcated lug 83 fixed on the rear side thereof as shown inFig. 4. Fixed on the upper surface of the plate is a second. plate 85,one edge of which is upturned to form a lip 86. Fixed to the plate 85opposite the. lip 86 is:a spring finger 8'7 shown in Fig. '7;

The plate 80is adapted to be reciprocated'between the arms 53 inresponse to oscillation of these arms by means of a lever 90 shown inFig. 4. This leveris pivoted adjacent its upper end'on a pin91, thelatter being supported by the brackets 31 of. the frame 20. The upperend of the lever 90 has a slot 92 which engages the aforementioned pin.62in the enlarged portion 61 of the cross-member 60. The lower end ofthe lever 90 is joined tothe lug 83 of the plate 80 by a link 93.

The inking pad The inking pad 52, shown in Figs. 12 to 14, includes abase slide and a replaceableink pad 101. The slide 100 includesa panwhich has side walls 106 and 107 and end walls'108 and 109. Formed inthe Walls 108 and 109 are holes 110. The wa1l'108 has a notch 111 and'athreaded hole 113, a notch not shown being provided in the opposite endwall 109. Positioned in the pan 105 is a felt pad 114. Resting on thepad 114 is a pair of springs 115. Permanently assembled with the pan 105is a plate'116 which has fingers 117 at its ends, these fingers beingreceivedby the holes in the end walls 108 and 109' of' the pan 105;

The springs 115-urge the, plate 116 away from the pan 11350 that thefingers. 117 are normally disposed at the top of the holes 110. Formedlongitudinally in the plate 116are downward'extending ridges 1'18 and119, it being noted in Fig. 14 that the ridge 119 is deeper than theridge 1'18; Downstruck from the plate 116 is a pair of: ears 120 for thepurpose. of positioning one of the springs 115.

The replaceable ink, pad 101 includes a pan 124 comprising afloor plate125 having side-walls 126, outer portions of. which are.bent downwardlyto provide flanges 127, as shown in Fig. 15. Provided in the pan'124 isafeltpad 132 over which a cover cloth 133 is fixed, the ends of thelatter being, securedto.-the panv 124. Ihe cloth 133' is held in placeon the pan 124 by an assembly plate 134, the latter having outstrucklugs 135 and a ridge 136 provided thereon as shown.in.Eig ..15.

145 rides onto the highpoint of the. cam 46as shown-inFiga 15and16,-thus imparting a slight The replaceable ink pad 101 is assembled byfolding the side portions of the-cloth 133 tightly over the flanges 127of the pan 124, moving the assembly plate 134upwardly into positionbetween-the flanges 12'? as shown in Fig. 14, and then bending theflanges 127 of the pan 124 inwardly so that the cloth 133 is firmlyclamped between these flanges and the assembly plate 134.

The replaceable ink pad 101 is placed upon or removed from the baseslide by sliding the oustruck lugs 135 over the edges of the plate 116as shown in Fig. 13. It is desirable that the ink pad 101 go on the baseslide 160 in one position only, this bein assured by the provision ofthe ridge 136 on the assembly plate 134 which prevents the pad 101 beingplaced on the base 100 in any other way than with the ridge 136 passingthrough'the notch 111 into the channel 121 pro vided by the ridge 119 ofthe plate 116. 1

The inking pad 52 is positioned in the printing head 12 of the machine16 as shown in Figs. 4 and '7, it being noted that the base slide 100 ofthe pad 52 rests on the plate 85 between the lip 86 and the springfinger 87'.

The power transmitting mechanism The power transmitting mechanism 23 ofthe printing and metering head 12 includes a driven shaft 140 rotatablymounted in the aligned bearings 32 and 34 of the end plate 27 and yoke33 respectively of the frame 20. The shaft 140 is driven from a shaft141 of the power unit 11 through a flexible coupling 142 as shown inFig. 4.

Fixed to the end of the shaft 140 adjacent the bearing 34 is a crank 143having a crank pin 144 fixed thereto, a roller 145 being providedon thepin 144. Asv shown in Figs. 2, 4, and 5, the roller 145 of the crank 143is disposed directly over the cam plates 46 and 4'7 of the cross-member43. Also fixed on the shaft'140 adjacent the bearing 34 is a cam 146shaped as shown in Fig. 17, this cam being positioned over and incontact with the aforementioned roller 64 of the pin 62 as shown;

Fixed to the shaft 140between the bearings 32 and 34 are gears 147andz148 for driving the mechanism (not shown) within the meter 24.

The. printing and metering head 12 is enclosed by a housing 150, thelatter having atop opening 151 in which the face of the meter 24 isdisposed and a front opening 152 which permits the passing of envelopes.over the platen 37..

Operation Envelopes upon which stamps are to be printed are stacked inthe hopper 14 of the machine 10 (see'Fig. 1) and the motor (not shown)within the housing 13 is energized setting the feeder 15 and conveyor 16into motion. Envelopes are thus automatically removed, one at a time,from the hopper 14 and delivered by the conveyor 16 to the printing andmetering head 12. As the edge of an envelope is carried into the head 12over the platen 37, the forward end of the envelope contacts a trip (notshown) which stops the conveyor 16 and actuates a clutch (not shown),the latter causing the drive shaft 141 (see Fig. 4) to make onerevolution, rotation of the shaft 141 being transmitted to the drivenshaft 140 through the coupling 142.

The normal positions of the various elements of the printing head 12 areshown in Figs. 4 and 5, attention being directed to Fig. 5 andparticularly to the position of the roller 145 of the crank 143 relativeto the cam plate 46 of the printing mechanism 21. As the shaft 140rotates, the roller downward movement of the oscillating printing member36 causing .the. printing die 44 to be pressed firmly against the inkingpad 52 as shown in Fig. 15. As the roller is-carried over the high pointof the cam 46 in the direction of the arrow of Fig. 16, the oscillatingprinting member 36 momentarily returns to its uppermost position freefrom the ink pad 52 as shown in Fig. 4.

During the initial movement of the shaft 140 no movement is transmittedto the oscillating member 50 of the inking mechanism'22 by the cam 146of the shaft 140 due to the concentricity of the lower portion of thiscam as shown in Fig. 17. Continued rotation of the shaft 140 carries thecam 146 to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 17, causing theoscillating inking member 50 to be fully depressed as shown in Fig. 18.As the member 50 moves downwardly the pin 62-on the cross-member 60 ofthe arms 53 rocks the lever 90 about the pin 92 to the position shown inFig. 18. This motion of the lever 90 is transmitted through the link 93tothe plate 80 causing this plate and the ink pad 52 thereon to be drawnrearwardly along the ways 81 in the arms 53. As the pad 52 moves, asaforesaid, the replaceable element 101 of this pad causes the roller 67of the tank 65 to roll, thus supplying the ink pad with ink from thetank 65.

' While the inking mechanism 22 isbeing actuatedbythe cam 146,-.-theprinting member 36 is depressed to its printing position by contact ofthe roller 145 with the cam plate 47 as shown in Figs. 18 and 19. Anenvelope 155, shown in Fig.18, is yieldably supported by the platen 37'and gripped thereagainst by serrated faces 200 of the arms53 as theprinting die 44 moves down and is firmly pressed upon the envelope. Asthe shaft 140 rotates back to its normal position the printing andinking mechanisms are springpressed to their normal positions by theaforedescribed springs 45 and 56. ;It will be noted that as the pad 52returns to its normal position the roller 67 of the ink tank 65 is againrolled over the surface of the pad, thus assuring an adequate supply ofink-to the pad.

It will be noted in Fig. 4 that the inking pad 101 is normally incontact with the inking roller 67, and it will be further noted in Fig.15 that while the die 44 is being inked by the pad 101 the pad isdepressed sufliciently to be out of contact with the roller 67. Thisaction allows the roller to play in the cavity 66a as shown in Figs. 9and 10 resulting in a pumping action which'assures an adequate supply ofink from the'tank 65 to the roller 67.

When the printing and metering head 12 completes its cycle of operation,the conveyor 16 is set in motion by suitable mechanism (not shown) andthe printed envelope is discharged from the head 12. Each rotation ofthe shaft 140 is transmitted to the meter 24 by the gears 147 and 148,thus registering the amount of postage printed.

It is thus seen that I have provided a very simple and reliable printingpress for mailing machines and that the inking mechanism is particularlyreliable in assuring an ample, yet properly limited, supply of ink tothe printing die. It has been found in actual practice that theapparatus of my invention will operate reliably over long periods with aminimum of attention.

Although I have shown and described but one form of my invention it isto be understood that various changes and modifications might be madetherein-without departing from the spirit of" the inventionor thescopeof the following'claiins;

What/I claim is:

1. In a printing press=the combination of? a printing member; aninkingpad adjacent said' member and having a yieldableface;an-ink:res ervoir;inkdispensing means communicating withsaid reservoir and normallypressurally contacting said pad; and means for bringing saidprintingmember and said pad t'ogether and'causing said pad face to-moveaway from said" ink dispensing meansto release the pressurethereagainst, said release of pressure actuating the dispensing means todispense a quantity of ink from-said reservoir.

2; In a printing pressthe combination of a printing member; an inkingpad adjacent said member and-having a yieldable face; anink res--ervoir, there being an ink dispensing chamber insaid reservoir; an inkdispensing member' held-- in a given position in said chamber'bypressureofsaid padagainstsaid ink dispensing member; and means for bringing saidprinting member and said pad together to cause said pad face to yield;thus causing saidink dispensing member to move to another position insaid chamber and feed a' quantity. of ink. fromsaid reservoir whereby itmay be applied to said pad,

3. A combination as in claim 2 in which ink dispensing member is a:roller.

4. A combination as in claim 2in which said ink dispensing member is aroller and in which said-pad moves across said roller and out-of thepath of said printing member during a: printing operation, said-movementcausing said roller to rotate and transfer ink, fed from said reservoir,onto said pad.

5. In a printing pressthe combination. of: a reciprocating printingmember; an inking pad disposed beneath said spring member and having ayieldable face; an. ink reservoir: disposed alongside said. printing,member; dispensing means receiving. ink by gravity from: said reservoir.into a chamber formed in said means; a roller in said chamber normally.restingon said pad; means for bringingv said printing member" and saidpad together to depress saidzpadface away from said roller, the latterbeing thereby caused to permit a quantity of ink to flow from saidreservoir into said chamber; and means for moving pad by saidroller.

6. Ina printing press the combination of: a

printing member; an ink transfer member; an ink reservoir; an inkdispenser having a chamber into which ink is adapted to fiow from saidreservoir, said chamber having a restricted mouth in its-lower end; aroller disposed-in said chamberand being adapted to close said mouthwhen free to seat thereon by gravity; and means for bringing said ink'transfer member against said roller to reciprocate said rollervertically in said chamber and. to rotate-said roller while-contact--ing said transfer member; thereby applying ink to the latter.

7; A combination as in claim 6 in which said chamber is substantiallycylindrical in shape and in which the diameter of'said roller is butslightly less than that of said chamber.

8. A combination as in claim 6 in which said chamber is substantiallycylindrical iii-shape and in which the diameter of said roller is butslight- 1y less than that of said chamber, and in which communicationbetween said chamber and said reservoir is effected through a passagewayopposite said mouth, said roller when engaged by said transfer memberbeing pressed against the entrance to said passageway, therebysubstantially closing the same.

9. In a printing press the combination of a printingmember; an inktransfer member; an ink reservoir; an-ink dispenser having a chamberinto whichink is adapted to flow from said reservoir,

saidchamber having a longitudinally disposed mouth; a roller. trapped insaidchamber and extending laterally therefrom throughsaid mouth; andmeansfor withdrawing'said roller endwise from said chamber.

10. In a printing press, the combination of a reciprocating printingmember, a relatively flat inking pad in front of said member, a drivingmeans-operable for moving said member into inking contact with said'pad,thereafter moving said on said. pad which. yields under pressure from Isaid printing member, thereby moving away from said ink dispensingmeans, the latter being actuated by this release of pressurethereagainst to dispense a quantity of ink from said reservoir.

COMMODORE D. RYAN.

